Loose leaf ring book



July 7, 1931.

H. T. ADAMS LOOSE LEAF RING BOOK Filed May 22, 1929 Jive/z ezgyf fa'm Patented July 7, 1931 1 UNITED STATES HENRY TLADAMS, or omoAeoiLLINoIs Loose LEAF RING 1300;:

Application filed. May 22,

This invention relates toloose leaf or ring books and is more particularly directed to mechanism by which perforated pages are held within a loose leaf book.

5 A primary object'of the invention is to provide binding mechanism of simple and staunch construction which will occupy very little space within the binder and which permits most of the binding mechanism being housed compactly within a thin back strip. Another object of the invention is to provide a back strip member which is but slightly deeper than the wire forming the ring members. Another object of the invention is to provide binding mechanism in which the ring members extend only along the side of the back strip andare reinforced by continuous contact with the side walls of the back strip. Another object is to provide means by which the ring members may be readily closed. A further object is to. provide sturdy and effective binding mechanism, the parts of which mayreadily be assembled and secured together inoperative relation. A further object of the invention is to provide a binding mechanism in which the ring members have substantially a continuous bearing surface against the spring side walls of the'back strip .andmeans for limiting the outward movement of the ring members. Other objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds. H

The inventionis described in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

' Figure 1 is a perspective view of'the binding mechanism, embodying my invention, attached to a loose leaf holder. I

Fig. 2 is a vertical section view, the section being taken at line 3 of Fig. 1, when the ring members are in closed position.

Fig; 3 is a sectional View, the section being taken as indicated at line 3, of Fig. 1, the ring members being shownin open position.

Fig. 4 is a detailed View of one of the ring members. r Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the bottom side of the back strip, and; V

Fig. 6 is a detail view of a rivet which 1929. Serial 1e. 365,066.

is employed to secure the ring members together.

In the illustration given, 1 represents a loose leaf holder; 2 represents a back strip equipped on its under side with inturned edges or side walls 3 and near the ends of the side walls with notches or slots 4. The back strip 2 is provided at its ends with attachment flanges 5 which are formed by pressing the end portions down to a point substantially flush with the bottom of the side walls and then turned to lie in a horizontal plane. The flanges 5 are perforated at 6, through which openings, rivets or other suitable means may be used to secure the back strip to the holder 1. In the illustration given, the back strip 2 is provided centrally with an opening 7 which is employed fora purpose hereinafter described. As shown more clearly in Fig. 4:, a ring member 8, provided at its ends with halfrings '9 and between the half-rings 9 with shank portions 8 Ring member 8 is provided also at its center with an inwardly turned projection 10 which is adapted to be embraced within the inturned edges or side walls 3 :of back stripQ, the notches or slots 4 receiving the lower portion of halfrings 9. The notches 4: thus serve to hold the ring member 8 against longitudinal displacement'while side walls 3 inclose the shank portions 8* of the ring members. The lateral projections or levers 10 upon ring member '8 may be formed in anysuitable manner. In the illustration given, each projection is formed integrally with' member 8, by pressing a central portion of member 8 inwardly in the form of a partial loop and then flattening it. A curved portion of the inner end of projection 10 is cut away at 11, as shown more clearly in Fig. 4:, to receive the shank of a rivet 12, which is preferably employed for'securing the lateral projections 10 of opposite ring members together.

In assembling the parts of the apparatus, a pair of ring members are placed within the metal strip so that the shank portion of the ring members is embraced'by the side walls 3 and the lower portion of the halfrings 9 are received within the slots or notches 4.

In the preferred construction, the lateral projections 10 of the opposed pair of ring members almost meet at a point directly below the opening 7. To secure together in flexible relation the lateral projections 10, a rivet 12 is placed between the projections and within the openings 11. Pressure is then exerted on the rivet to expand it securely in position and in protective relation about the ends of lateral projections 10.

In the operation of the binding apparatus, the half-rings 9 of ring members 8 are pulled back until the lateral projections assume the position shown in Fig. 3. The pressure exerted by the spring walls 3 tend .to'hold the lateral projections 10 tightly about the rivet 12 and the sides of the opening 7 prevent further outward movement of the projections 10. The rings are held in open position by the angular position of the projections 10, as shown in Fig. 3. To close the rings, the half-rings 9 may be pressed towards each other, or if desired, pressure may be exerted upon the rivet 12 and lateral projections 10. Even when the rings are pressed together, it is found that they can be more securely locked together by pressing down upon the rivet 12 and lateral projections 10. The closed position of the rings and other mechanism is illustrated in Fig. 2.

While I have shown a back strip construction in which the opening is substantially in the center of the strip,,it is obvious that the opening may be formed at another place or, if desired, more than one opening may be used. 'l i hile I have shown specific means for forming a pivotal joint between the ends of lateral projections 10, other forms of connections may be employed if desired. One advantage of the particular type of joint described is that it permits rapid assembly of the parts.

It will be observed that with the construction illustrated, it is possible to secure bind.- ing mechanism of great strength which may yet be compactly housed within a very thin back strip. In the preferred, form of construction, the back strip is only slightly thicker than the diameter of the ring member. Ample room for the expansion of the lateral projections or levers 10 is afforded by opening. 7 and by this means the necessity of providing a deeper back strip is eliminated. The opening also permits pressure to be exerted upon the lateral projections or levers l0 and thus to lock the rings more securely in closed position. Suflicient spring support for the ring members is afforded by the continuous bearing contact of the shankof the ring members with the side walls 3.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

What I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: I 1

l. Ina device of the character set forth, a metal back case closed on one side and provided with spring edge portions, ring members in contact with said edge portions, and levers extending from said ring members and pivotally connected at their inner ends, said back case being provided on its closed side with an opening through which said levers are accessible for exerting pressure thereon with a finger to close said rings.

2. In a device of the character set forth, a metal back strip provided with inturned edges, ring members engaging said edges, and lateral projections from said ring members formed integrally therewith, said lateral projections being pivotally connected at their inner ends, and said back strip being provided on its closed side with an opening through which said lateral projections may swing.

3. In a device of the character set forth, a metal back spring having a closed side provided with a central opening and having inturned edges, ring members having shank portions engaging said inturned edges, intermediate lateral projections formed integrally with said shank portions, said projections being pivotally connected at their inner ends, said projections being also adapted to extend into said opening.

4. In a ring book having a rear wall, an open sided metal back strip having its open side facing said rear wall and being equipped with inturned edges, said strip being provided on its closed side with an opening, ring members engaging said inturned edges, and projections on said ring members having pivotal contacts at their inner ends and adapted to extend through said opening. V

5, In a ring book having a rear wall, a metal back strip having an open side facing said rear wall and being provided with inturned edges and having said edges facing said rear wall, said back strip being provided with an opening, ring members embraced by the inturned edges on opposite sides of said strip, and lateral projections on said ring members meeting at their inner ends and adapted to extend into said opening.

6. In a ring book having a rear wall, a metal back strip having an open side facing said rear walland being provided with inturned side walls and with an opening, ring members having shank portions in contact substantially throughout their length with said inturned side walls, and lateral projections on said ring members having a pivotal connection at their inner ends and adapted to extend into said opening.

7. In a device of the character set forth, a thin back strip provided with inturned edge portions, ring members having shank portions rotatively embraced within said inturned portions, and lever arms extending from said ring members and connected at their inner ends b a hinged joint, said back strip being provi ed with an opening in an otherwise closed side permitting said lever ends to extend therethrough when said ring members are in open position.

8. In a device of the character set forth, a metal back-case having an open and a closed side and provided with inturned side walls, ring members having shank portions in engagement substantially throughout their length with said side walls, and lateral extensions at an intermediate point on said shank portions and provided at their inner ends with a pivotal connection, said back case being provided with an opening allow ing said lateral extensions to swing thereinto during the opening and closing operations.

HENRY T. ADAMS. 

